Preparation and Cats

The apartment Khael had for himself was small, it was hunkered down in a smalltime apartment complex under a roaring bridge. The area reeked of smoke and trash, while factories billowed in the distance as they manufactured cosmetics and scientific inventions.

Streets like this weren't unfamiliar to me, it was a second home for me almost. It was where I lived in my past life and I guess this life too, for now at the very least.

My apartment was small, 7 by 9 metres small. Smaller than the arena I fought in at the academy examination room.

In the corner was a dingy white bed and a tiny wooden bedside table holding up a slightly broken lamp. The kitchen was reduced to a slab atop cabinets with no doors and a barely running sink. 

It smelt terrible and old, but as soon as I arrived my face fell to my pillow. Thrust in such a scenario I needed some downtime to work things out in my head.

I couldn't simply go to this 'power-up' which was hinted at in the novel. I needed some planning and a reputation to create. Nothing that wasn't too hard to get but nothing to extravagant since I would be staying at Kordell Academy (hopefully) later.

Thankfully my movement art would assist me in all of these endeavours, so I should put some time to familiarise myself with it a bit more.

But for now, I needed some sleep.

...

It was in the black of night, through the glint of windows and their pearlescent glow, flickers of darkness sped through the night.

A figure garbed in black from head to toe whistled with the wind as their feet slithered and pounced. Like a snake through the wilderness of the desert searching for prey.

The undercity of Caraine was bustling during midnight, neon lights aglow while pedestrians loitered and tossed around the city bouncing from pleasure to pleasure. You would even see an occasional robot or golem as they worked or fought.

There was a sound in the air, a rhythm to the streets like a pulse. It was alive and very much awake. Famous for it's nightlife this portion of the undercity was more commonly called the Ruby Valley.

It was coined that name for its hidden beauty and the pleasures that one might find if they search hard enough. 

On the flip side, it also derived from the fact that violence was found in all of its streets. Whether through illegal animal means, on screens or gang violence. The colour of blood marked every stone and hand in this place.

This was the Ruby Valley, the very same place where a certain hooded figure pounced atop elaborate rooftops and glowing industry signs.

It was their third night out and a certain rumour on the street made its way to a certain small shopkeeper.

This shop especially was one of a kind. Compacted in a portable carriage, the doors on the back of it opened up to reveal a massive room full of shelves with ornate and mystical things.

There was books on monsters, on beasts and legend. Racks where decorative weapons hung off from were squished by large clear containers revealing colourful liquids with unknown effects. Eyes. Tree branches. Spices.

You name it, the shop had it.

Attending it was a disheveled older man. White frizzled hair hung from his head and parted in the middle. Just enough for the customer to witness the gems replacing his eyes.

His back hunched with his longish arms pressed against the bench he leaned against. The old man grumbled as he listened to the pair of youngsters just beyond his street-side business. 

"So it all got stolen? Like, all of it?" The youth chuckled as he puffed on a device turning mesmerising blue liquid to gas. "Man... well, sucks to be you!"

"Oi! Vet's gonna kill me for this, you know how much I borrowed?" The other adolescent had grabbed him by the collar and violently shoved three fingers in his face. "Three bags! Three...AGGH! Screw you man!"

"Man c'mon, I'm sure it'll work out"

"...It better not be that guy that's been stealing stuff from those gangs."

"Yeah right, you're not that important to be stealing from."

The duo soon enough tumbled down the street and away from the store.

It was bad for business for folk like them to come loitering in his area. The old man made a mental note to avoid these particular parts next time.

Hearing the silence of the night, the old man decided it was time to pack it up.

*knock* *knock*

The hollow sound of wood jumped the storekeeper as he turned to see a young man. He was tanned and quite tall, wearing a long black puffy jacket over a loose yellow hoodie. But most of all, his eyes were clear and tame.

"A-ah, excuse me young fella. Nearly caught me off guard, you see." The old man made an effort to extend his abnormally long arms to his chest. 

"Sorry about that, shouldn't have snuck up on yous away." A kind smile apologised and the old man responded in kind.

"No worries about that, lad. Now lets see here, what would ya like? You looking for anything in particular?" His thin and pointy hands gestured to the much larger space in the old-timey carriage.

The old man watched as his customer hummed and thought of what to say. It was sort of a game for him to try and guess what they wanted based off of their stare.

"...You have any animal trickets?"

"Of course, any in particular you'd like to see? Rabbits? Tigers? Phoenixes?"

"Pheonixes?" An interested eye snapped to the old mans.

"Ah ah ah ah, I'm joking of course my boy." A slap echoed as the old timer hit his boney thigh. "So... anything you'd fancy?"

"How about... any dog or cat trinkets?" 

"Marvellous choice!"

With a quick snap of his surprisingly fast arms, an array of items were displayed to the young man. From paws, to ears to teeth.

The nature of magic and science had somewhat evolved the notion of evolution. No longer did matter being the fittest, it was whether or not humans or otherwise had intervened. 

It had led to the development of interesting breeds of cats and dogs in the world. 

The young man's eyes flickered across the collections before settling on a certain charm. Dangling off the knot of a black rope was an eye encased in a crystal of sorts.

"I'll take this one." The young man pointed. "And... that one."

The other seemed to be sharp claw of sorts. If given an inspection, it was moreso a weapon than it was small trinket.

"Is that all for this evening?" The old man's eyes gleamed with a goldish hue.

"Yes, that'll be all."

...

...

Unbeknownest to the both of them, a part of yellow slits watched from the darkness. A faint pur flittering through the windless night.